Train-order signal-board.



No. 634,268. Patented ct. 3, |899. W. NICHOLS.

TRAIN ORDER SIGNAL BOARD.

(Application led May 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

as ce mow-Lama. wnsuluamn a ,the outer movable guard-plate.

UNiTnD STATES NV ILLIAM NICHOLS, OF

PATENT Erica.

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

TRAIN-ORDER SIGNAL-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 634,268, dated October 3, 1899.

Application iiled May 13, 1899- Zo all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, .WILLIAM NioHoLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Train-Order Signal- Boards, of which the following is a specification.

'My invention relates to train-order signalboards, and my primary object is to produce a device of this character Which will safeguard the mind of the telegraph-operator by making it impossible for him to copy a train-order with the official stylus until the danger-signal-viz., the red signal-is properly displayed and which prevents the signal being locked clear or white (signifying all right or no orders')-by any instrument other than the oflicial stylus or its duplicate, thereby insuring that the stylus is always in position and ready for action when the signal is clear or by its absence that the danger-signal is displayed.'

To these ends the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,in Which- Figure l represents a top plan View of a train-order signal-board mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the same, partly in section. Figs. 3, 3f, and 3b represent enlarged 'sectional views, Figs. 3 and S being taken on'dotted lines-III III and III lIIa, respectively, of Fig. l and Fig. 3b on the dottedlline III4b IIIb of Fig. V2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the inner stationary guard-plate. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the inner movable guard-plate. Fig. 6 is a similar View of the outer stationary guard-plate. Fig. 7 is a similar view of Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the outer stationary guard-plate to show clearly the opening thereof. Fig. 9 is a detail side view of the upper end of the signal proper.

Referring to the drawings in detail, l designates an approximately semicircular board adapted to be secured in a horizontal position Serial No. 716,754. (No model.)

adjacent tothe operators desk or table in order that the operator may Without the slightest inconvenience reach the same.

2 designates the inner stationary guardplate, secured to the curved periphery of the board and provided with an vopeningf, communicating with a small radial'opening la of ceive the writing-point of the stylus, as hereinafter explained.

' 4 designates `the outer stationary guardplate, extending parallel with the guard-plate 2 and secured thereto and to the board, as shown, or in any other suitable or preferred manner, said outer stationary guard-plate at a point in radial alinement with the opening 3 being provided with a corresponding opening 5,which opening also extends or continues through the enlargement or boss 6, formed externally of or secured to the plate 4, the opening or passage 5 being provided with the inwardly-projecting lugs 7.

8 designates a bolt which extends vertically through the board centrallyof said curved guard-plate, and 9 a bell-crank lever mounted pivotally on said bolt and connected by a link-rod l0 or its equivalent to the arm ll of the signal mechanism located at the proper point alongside the track, (not shown,) the usual red or danger signal 12 being moved parallel With or at right angles to the track accordingly as the arm ll is thrown to the position shown in full or in dotted lines, Fig. l,

Y it being understoodthat the customary spring (not shown) or its equivalent is relied on to throw the signal vto the danger position, as shown in dotted lines, .when the telegraph operator removes his stylus from the board, though it is to be further understood and hereinafter appears that in case the spring fails to work the operator will be compelled to operate the signal by hand (without leaving his seat) before he can remove the stylus to copy the train-order.

Extending concentricallyof the lever-axis and secured to the board in any suitable manner is a friction-bar 13, and bearing upon the same is a spring-arm 14, projecting outward from the lever and formed with or carrying at its outer end an inverted-U -shaped bracket 15, one arm of which depends into the space the board, said opening being designed to re- IOO between the stationary guard-plates. A similar bracket 16, secured to the opposite end of the lever, has one of its arms depending into the space between said stationary guardplates, and connecting these brackets are the parallel movable guard-plates, the inner one, located between guard-plates 2 and 4L, being numbered l? and the outer one 1S. The inner movable guard-plate is provided with a longitudinal slot 19, which terminates in an enlargement or opening 20, 'corresponding in form and size to the openings 3 and 5 of the stationaryguard-plates. The outer movable guard-plate is provided with a similar longitudinal slot 2l. and terminates at its rear end in an enlargement or opening 22, which opening corresponds in size and form to the openings zl, 5, and 20, and said openings are -by preference of triangular form for a reason which is hereinafter explained.

3y the construction just described it is apparent that when the lever is in the position shown in full lilies, Fig. l, and the signal, consequently, is clear the movable guardplates are disposed with the front ends of t-heir slots registering with the openings 3 and 5-- that is to say, the enlargement or opening 2O of the inner movable guard-plate registers with the openings 3 and 5 and the opening l of the board, but the enlargement or opening of the outer movable guard-plate does not. The effect of this arrangement on the stylus is hereinafter explained.

In order to act as a guide for the lever 9 and positively arrest it at the proper limit of its travel in either direction, a guide-slot is formed by means of the curved plates 23 and 24, secured in a parallel relation to the face of the board l, the plate 2-1 being secured to the upturned ends of the plate 23, with the lever extending through the slot, as shown.

Near its front end the plate 23 is provided with an opening 25, communicating with the recess 2 6 in the face of the board, and bolted or otherwise secured in said recessis a springcateh 27, normally projecting up through the opening 25 in the 'path of the lever and provided at its free end with a finger-piece 28, whereby the catch may be depressed by hand out of the path of the lever.

In order that this signal-board may be a necessary or desirable adj unet to a telegraphoperators oice, it is essential that the company prescribe an ofcial stylus for use in copying train-orders, which stylus when out of service-that is, after all orders have been copied and delivered-must be secured to the train-order signal-board in such manner that it cannot be removed therefrom unless the signal occupies its danger position, and in order to prevent the operator from locking the signal-board clear with a nail, leadpencil, or other convenient object the opening or openings to receive the stylus are of peculiar configuration, so that by the stylus alone or its duplicate can the signal-board be' locke( clear.7 This obviouslyinsures that the stylus is always in its proper position and the signal ready for action when it is necessary for the operator to copy a train-order.

Referring now to the construction of: the stylus, it consists of a stem or handle portion 29, sufficiently small atits lower end to pass th rough the slot 2 1 of the outer movable guardplate, the enlargement 30 corresponding in form to but being slightly smaller than the openings 3 tl 2O 22 and provided with grooves 3l to receive the lugs 7 hereinbefore described (see Fig. S) and the stylus-point 32 to enter the recess l of the board, said point being sufficiently small to pass through the slot 19 of the inner movable guard-plate.

In practice, assuming that the signal-board is locke(y clear, it will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the enlargement 30 of the stylus extends through the registering openings 5 2() 3 and that the Writing-point occupies the recess l" ofthe board. It will also be noticed that the stein or handle at a point where it is smaller than the enlargement extends through the slot 2l of the outer movable guard-plate and that owing to the fact that the enlargement 30 extends through the opening or enlargement 20 of the inner movable guardplate the signal is locked clean Supposing now that the operator is to make a copy of a train-order, he reaches up and pulls the stylus outward until the enlargement is withdrawn entirely through the opening 2O of the inner movable guard-plate and about the same instant strikes against the inner side of the outer guard plate, because it cannot pass through the narrow slot 2l. This movement of the stylus is instantly followed by the automatic operation of the signal by the spring thereof, and the movement of the signal of course imparts a corresponding movement to the signal-board mechanism--that is to say, the lever and movable guard-plates carried thereby swing from the position shown in full lines, Fig. l, to the position shown in dotted lines, the lever in this action depressing the spring-catch', which at the termination of the lever movement springs up to its normal position and, locking the lever, locks the signal in its danger position. At the termination of the lever movement the opening orenlargement 22 of the movable guard-plate 1S registers with the opening 5 and permits th withdrawal of the stylus by the operator, who then makes his copy of the order and after delivering all orders reinserts the stylus, which, however, cannot be forced inward to its original position, because the inner end ot' the enlargement bears against the outer side.

of the inner movable guard-plate at the rear end of slot 19, the Writing-point projecting through said slot in an obvious manner. If the operator fails to return the signal to the clear position after the train has passed, for which a copy of said order was intended, the danger-signal will remain displayed and will cause the next train to stop. To avoid this unnecessary delay, the operator should trip IOO IIO

the spring-catch 27 by depressing its fingerpiece 28 and throw the signal to clear by returning the lever to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, and as this movement is effected he must lock the signal in its clear position by pushing the stylus inward until its enlargement 30 enters the opening or enlargement 2Ov of the inner movable guard-plate, which opening at this time again registers With the openings- 2 and 5. By the same movement which caused this opening to reregister and permit the signal to be locked clear by the inward movement of the stylus, the latterWas also locked against removal until the opening or enlargement 22 again registers with the opening 5.

It was found in practicel the slot of the inner movable guard-plate could be dispensed with, though at the risk of breaking the point of the stylus, because the action of the signal-spring is so quick that it would cause the abrupt wall of the opening of said plate to strikeagainst the point before the latter could be completely Withdrawn through said opening. I/Vith this communicating slot as soon as the enlargement 30 is Withdrawn the signal is thrown Without bringing any pressure to bear upon the stylus-point at all, because the slot is sufficiently large "to play loosely upon said point. Furthermore, without said slot a nail or piece of wire small enough to 'pass between the lugs 7 could be inserted to lock the signal clearg but with it, as the Width of the slot is equal to the diameter of the space between said lugs, this object cannot be accomplished, and it is necessary in order to lock the signal clear7 that the ofiicial stylus or its exact duplicate be employed. It would be against the orders of the company, of course, for an operator to provide himself with such duplicate, so as to insure that the signal-board is in proper Working-position at all times and therefore an absolutely reliable safeguard to the mind of the despatcher. Furthermore, it Will be difficult, or at least inconvenient, for a despatcher to obtain a duplicate of this stylus, because the company can control the source of supply. Vhile the cross-sectional configuration of the stylus and of the openings made to receive it is of no especial importance as regards the operation of the board, such configuration is preferred, because it is more convenient and comfortable to the grasp ofthe despatcher While Writing and because in that form it can be reduced to aminimum Weight, this reduction in weight being an object, because it will probably be necessary to make the stylus of metal, preferably aluminium, because a heavier metal Would soon tire the hand of the operator. It will be apparent also that the plate 2, termed the inner stationary guard-plate,7 maybe dispensed with if the part 1 should be constructed of metal, as the main function of said plate is to provide a Wear-surface for the part 1, though of course there must be an opening or recess 3 to receive the inner end of the enlargement of the stylus to lock the signal-board clear.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a train-order signal-board which embodies the features of advantage enumerated in the statement of invention and which, furthermore, is of eX- ceedingly simple, compact, durable, and inexpensive construction. y

It is to be understood, of course, that the board may be used vertically instead of horizontally and that the special construction of the signal mechanism or of its connection with the signal-board is material only to the extent that the operation of one shall impart a corresponding movement to theother. is also to be understood that various changes in the detail construction, form, arrangement, or proportion of the parts may be made Without departing from the essential spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a train-order signal-board, a stationary guard-plate, a movable guard-plate arranged and adapted to move in a plane substantiall y parallel with the stationary guardplate, a signal operatively connected to said movable guard-plate, and a stylus adapted to lock said guard-plates together when the signal is clear, substantially as described.

2. In a train-order signal-board, a stationary guard-plate having an opening, a movable guard-plate having an opening, a signal operatively connected to said movable guardplate, and a stylus removably engaging the openings of said guard-plates when the danger-signal is set, substantially as described.

3. In a train-order signal-board, a guardplate having an opening, a movable guardplate having an opening, one of said guardplates also having a slot narrower in Width than and communicating at one end with its opening, and a stylus projecting through the slotted guard-plate and engaging the opening of the other guard-plate, substantially as described.

4. In a train-order signal-board, a stationary guard-plate having an opening,a movable guard-plate having a slot terminating in an enlargement or opening, a signal operatively connected to the movable guard-plate, and a stylus With its stem or handle small enough to pass through said slot and provided With an enlargement fitting in the opening of the stationary guard-plate and adapted to be Withdrawn through the opening or enlargement of themovable plate when the danger-signal is set, substantially as described.

5. In a train-order signal-board, a stationary guard-plate having an opening, an inner and an outer movable guard-plate at opposite sides of 'the stationary plate, the inner one having an opening and the outer one a slot terminating in an enlargement or opening, a

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signal operatively Connected to said movable guard-plates, and a stylus with its stem extending through the slot of said outerguardplate and provided with an enlargement engaging the registering openings of the stationary and inner movable guard-plates and locking the signal clean substantially as described.

(l. In a train-order signal-board, a stationary guard-plate having an opening, slotted inneran d outer movable gu ard-plates at opposite sides ot the stationary plate, the slot of the inner plate terminating at its front end in an enlargement or opening and the slot of the outer plate inan enlargement or opening at its rear end, a signal operatively connected to said movable guard-plates, and a stylus having its enlargement fitting in the opening of the stationary guard-plate when the danger-signal is s'et, its stem or handle projecting outward through the registering enlargement or opening of the outer movable guardplate, and its writing-point projecting inward through the slot of the inner movable guard-plate, substantially as described.

7. In a train-ordersignal-board, a stationaryguard-plate,having an opening,a movable guard-plate having a slot terminating in an enlargement or opening, a signal operatively connected to the movable plate, astylus with its stem or handle small enough to pass through said slot and provided with an enlargement iitting in the opening of the stationary guard-plate and adapted to be withdrawn through the enlargement or opening of the movable plate when the danger-signal is set, and means to lock said plates together when said openings register, substantially as described.

S. In a train-order signal-board, a stationary guard-plate having an opening, and lugs projecting inward thereof, a movable guardplate having a slot terminating in an enlargement or opening, a signal, and a stylus with its stem or handle small enough to pass through said slot and provided with an enlargement tting in the opening of the stationary guard-plate and provided with grooves to receive said lugs, substantially as described.

i). In a train-order signal-board, a stationaryguard-plate having an opening, a movable guard-plate having a slot terminating in an enlargement or opening, a signal, a lever oonneeted to t-he signal and carrying said movable guard-plate, a stylus with its stem or handle small enough to pass through said Slot and provided with an enlargement f1ttiug in the opening of the stationary guardplate, a friction-bar to prevent accidental movement of the lever, and a'spring-eateh to engage the lever when the (langer-signal is set, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

XVILLTAM NICHOLS.

\Vi tnesses:

M. R. REMLEY, ll. C. Rononus. 

